Did you know that people share videos 1200% times more than text and links combined?
Wow. As a nonprofit, it makes sense to harness the power of video storytelling to get your message and mission out to a larger audience.
But how? All video content is not created equal.
If you’re marketing for nonprofits, follow us and we’ll dive into 9 videographer tips to create compelling nonprofit videos!
Does Your Nonprofit Have a Video Marketing Strategy?
It’s great that you’re considering incorporating videos for your nonprofit marketing strategy, but it’s important to do so within the framework of a video marketing strategy.
Using videos as a part of your nonprofit marketing strategy is an excellent way to spread the message of your organization, attract a larger audience and engage more viewers.
9 Compelling Video Storytelling Tips for Nonprofits
Maybe your nonprofit marketing strategy includes sharing the story of a particular event or campaign of your organization, or maybe you’re looking to produce inspirational videos for YouTube.
Whatever your strategy consists of, these 9 video storytelling tips will ensure that your storytelling video is as effective and impactful as possible.
1. Keep It Short
The ideal length for a marketing video is no longer than two minutes. People’s attention spans are getting shorter, so you’ll want to condense your message to its most essential points.
Don’t use shots longer than 20 seconds, and break up long clips by adding b-roll, switching angles, zooming in, or otherwise visually breaking up the scene.
2. Pay Attention to the Background
One of the most important videographer tips is to not forget about the elements of the shot other than the main focus.
The last thing you want is to have captured excellent footage and then later realize that the background is filled with clutter or otherwise takes away from your message.
The background is an opportunity to create context, so choose a background that aligns with your mission and adds to the content. Take your time to set up a shot that is free of clutter or distractions. For example, if there are books in the background with titles that send the wrong message, remove them.
If visual distractions are fixed and immovable from a scene, consider finding a camera angle that excludes them from the shot. If all else fails, get a closer shot.
3. Get Close to the Subject
You’ll want to include a mix of wide, medium, and close up shots in your video overall, but for interviews get close to your subject. This creates a more intimate and engaging experience for your audience and reduces the potential for distracting background elements.
4. Warm Interviewees Up First
A lot of people are understandably nervous about being on camera, so take a few minutes to connect with your interviewee on a personal level before you start filming.
Talk to them about their day, their life, their hobbies, or their family. Anything that helps them relax in the space and connect with you on a personal level.
Explain to them where they should look (whether at the camera or at you) and let them know that the video will be edited and they can take their time and start over if they need to.
Run through the questions you’ll be asking them before you turn the camera on to give them some time to collect their thoughts and provide concise answers.
5. Stay Silent During Interviews
It’s normal in everyday conversation to give verbal affirmations to show a speaker that you’re following along with what they’re saying. For creating a video, though, this can produce a bunch of unusable footage because of your verbal interjections into the interviewee’s answers.
Stick with nonverbal cues like nodding and reacting with facial expressions. Make sure you pause before asking your follow up questions, so you don’t accidentally cut into the last few words of the individual’s sentence.
6. Capture B-Roll
Don’t let b-roll be an afterthought, take the time to plan out what b-roll you’re going to capture. B-roll is great because it can give context to the messages in your video while also visually breaking up longer shots or interviews.
Incorporating text is an excellent way to help your video flow between shots, and is particularly important on social media. The numbers on this are staggering: 85% of videos viewed on Facebook are watched without sound.
7. Be Picky About the Footage You Use
Only use the best footage from your shoot in your final video. Even if it seemed like someone’s interview would fit perfectly in your video at the time of the shoot, sometimes it doesn’t read well in post-production or doesn’t fit with the overall message of the video.
Your storytelling video is an opportunity to showcase your best work, so only include the absolute best footage in your final video.
8. Use Background Music to Enhance Your Message
Background music can help set the tone for your video and help tie clips together. Take the time to find music that matches the mood of your video, and switch up the music if the mood changes throughout.
You can use free music with a creative commons license or purchase royalty-free music online.
9. Include a Call to Action
Now that your audience has watched your compelling, engaging storytelling video, you’ve got them hooked on your mission and your message. Don’t leave them hanging!
What do you want your viewer to do?
Do you want them to donate, join your mailing list, or sign up to volunteer?
Maybe you just want them to have a way to learn more about your organization.
Whatever it is, provide some action that your audience can take, whether it’s clicking a donate button or following a link to your nonprofit’s website.
Share the Story of Your Nonprofit Through Video
Marketing for nonprofits demands specific strategies to ensure your audience is receiving concise and pertinent information about your organization.
Using these video storytelling methods as a part of a video marketing strategy will help get your message out to a larger audience.
Did you find this article on video marketing for nonprofits helpful? Comment below and let us know other great videographer tips! And don’t forget to check out the rest of our blog for more useful marketing, business, and technology articles.
That’s nice share of Storytelling Tips for Nonprofits.
one can understand easily.
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